Vaginal



vv. w. PRETTS. VAGINAL SPECULUM AND RETRACTOR` Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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vAPPLICATION FILED FEBJ23. 1915.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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www3@ iiivir straits ieri nieren WILLIAM W. PRE'ITS, OF'PLATTEVILLE, WISCONSIN.

VAGINAL SPECULUM AND RETRACTOR.

To all whom z'zf may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W'. FRETTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Platteville, county of Grant, and State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vaginal Specula and Retractors, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to surgical apparatus, and particularly to an improved speculum and retractor.

The primary object of my inventionis to provide a device of the character mentioned by means of which the walls of the vagina and the cervex uteri (neck of the womb) may be rendered readily accessible for diagnosis or treatment; and which s hall be particularly adapted for use in surgical operations upon the parts mentioned and on the perineuin.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as mentioned, which shall properly hold the parts to be treated or operated upon, and at the same time shall be practically out of the ield of operation.

A further object is to provide a device of the class under consideration which shall be self-retaining.

A further object is to provide a device as mentioned which 'may be used with the handles turned in any direction, whereby it is adapted for use with the patient in any position.

A further object is to provide a retractor of the class mentioned by means of which the vagina may be retracted to its full eX- tent without causing injury to the urethra.

A further object is to provide a device ot the class mentioned which may be readily taken apart for cleaning and sterilizing.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view, my invention consists generally in a pair of `pivotally connected members provided at one end with handles and at the other end with blades extending at substantially right angles thereto and substantially lparallel to each other, and a third bladeslidably connected to the irst mentioned members and adapted to be moved toward or away from the first mentioned blades on a medial line, said third blade being shaped to assist in retaining the device in the vagina.

My invention further consists in the pivotally connected members equipped with the blades as mentioned, further character- Specification of Letters Patent.

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y Application led'lEebruary 23, 1915. Serial No. 9,988.

ized by having the portion of the members between the pivot and the blades curved outwardly away from each other and arched outwardly in the opposite direction from the blades, to give a clear field of operation.

My invention consists further in providing a device as mentioned in which the third blade is formed with a slot to prevent pressure and consequent injury to the urethra.

My invention further consists in a device as mentioned wherein the pivoted members and the slidable blade are connected by the same separable device.

My invention further consists in improved means for holding the device in expanded position, and in various details of construction and arrangements oi parts all as will `be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure l is a plan viewof avaginal speculuin and retractor embodying my invention, illustrating the same in contracted position, Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same, Fig. 3 is a plan view in expanded position, Fig. 4L is a detail view of the third` or auX- iliary blade, Fig.` 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, Fig. G is a section on the line 6 6 of the same iigure, Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 8 is a detail view of the pivotal connection of the main members.

Referring now to the drawings, 10-10 indicate a pair of pivotally connected members, each comprising a handle portion l1 and a curved arm portion l2 angularly disposed with relation to the handle portion, said portions merging into each other at substantially the point of pivotal connection of the members l0. The handle por- .tions 1l 'are 'preferably straight and terminate in rings 13 for the reception of the thumb andinger used yin operating the device.

The arms l2, adjacent the handles, extend abruptly outwardly at a considerable angle thereto, and then curve inwardly, terminating in blades 11i at substantially right angles to the general plane of the members 10. rlhese arms are also arched outwardly away from said plane and in the opposite direction from the blades. By this arrangement the blade supporting arms are maintained in such position as not to interfere with the iield of operation. The blades 14C' are substantially straight from end to end, are slightly convex on the outer face and have well rounded edges and corners to prevent injury to the parts or undue pain to the patient.

At the juncture of the arm and handle portions, 11 and 12, the members 10 are provided with means for pivotally connecting the same. To this end one of the said members is lprovided with a pair of ears 15, the outer faces of which are in the planes of the outer faces of the member, and the yother member is provided with a single ear l binding thumb nut 19. l A washer 20 is interposed between the nut 19 and the adjacent ear 15.

21 indicates the third or auxiliary blade which is provided with a shank 22 at substantially right angles thereto, and parallel with the members 10. The shank 22 is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 23 to receive the bolt 18, and when the third blade is used the shank 22 is arranged between the washer 20 and the thumbnut 19. The blade 21 is therefor adapted to be moved toward or away from the blades lit on a medial line, and is held in position by the same device that connects the pivoted members 10. The end of the shank 22 is provided with a hook or finger hold 24 by means of which the blade 21 is moved and this is arranged adjacent the rings 13 so that the device may be manipulated with one hand.

yThe blade 21 is convex in cross section on its outer face, for the reasons explained in relation to the blades 14, and is furthermore convex longitudinally, adjacent the free end so as to assist in retaining the device within the vagina, as will be readily understood.

Adjacent its base the blade 2l is provided with a longitudinally disposed slotl or recess 25` to prevent the blade from pressing the urethra against the fpubic arch with consequent injury to the ormer, when said blade is used in such position as would otherwise press thereon.

Means must be provided for holding the device in operative position, that is with the blades 14 separated. To this end I provide a threaded bar 26, pivotally connected to one of the handle portions 13 and engaging between lugs on the other handle portion, and provide means for locking the bar in position. The bar is preferably fiat, as illustrated in the drawings and is formed with shallow grooves 27 in its opposite faces. The bar is pivoted at one end between ears 28 on the extreme outer portion of one of the rings 13 and is adapted to be swung into position between ears 29 on the opposite ring. A thumb nut 30 is threaded on the bar 26 to engage the outer edges of the lugs 29 which are attened to form a seat for the same. A thumb screw 37 is threaded through one of the lugs and engages in one of the grooves 27. This holds the bar in position between the ears 29 and at the same time permits longitudinal movement thereof. A slight turn of the screw releases the bar so that it may be thrown from between the lugs to permit quickly contracting the device.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, a pair of pivotally connected members, handles upon one end of said members, blades upon the opposite end's of said members, a bar pivotally connected to one of said handles and provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a pair of lugs upon the opposite handle to receive said bar between them, and a thumb screw threaded through one of said lugs and adapted to engage in said slot, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of pivotally connected members, handles upon one end of said members, blades upon the opposite ends of said members, a bar pivotally connected to one of said handles and provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a pair of lugs upon the opposite handle to receive said bar between them, a thumb screw threaded through one of said lugs and adapted to engage in said slot, and a thumb nut threaded upon said bar and adapted to engage said lugs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM W. PRETTS.

Witnesses:

S. J. FLYNN, Bannion GIBBoNs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing* the Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, D. C. 

